Akwa Ibom Police Command Arrests 63 Political Thugs, Recovers Stolen PVCs

Some suspected political thugs have been apprehended by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command on Monday.

The 63 suspects and 10 others were arrested in connection with the pre-election violence in the Obot-Akara Local Government Area of the state.

The incident saw two persons lose their lives while 13 vehicles were burnt on Saturday.

According to the report, the suspects were allegedly hired from Bayelsa, Delta and Ondo states by some desperate politicians.

Among the items recovered from the suspects were, a locally-made gun, 25 live cartridges, two machetes, charms, a knife, phones, human hair, two axes and Permanent Voter Cards.

The Commissioner of police in the state, Bashir Makama while parading the suspects at a press briefing held at the command’s headquarters in Uyo, he stated that 41 of them, who claimed to be election observers, were arrested on Friday, in a hotel in Uyo.

He stated that suspects could not produce a sign of identity issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission or properly identify themselves.

Makama who was represented by Odiko MacDon, the command’s Public Relations Officer, stated that 20 other suspects were arrested on Friday at the Ukanafun Local Government Area of the state.

He said the suspects were allegedly brought in from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, by one Uduak Dick, on the pretext of attending the burial ceremony of a Lance Corporal in the Nigerian Army, Udo Essien.

He revealed that some suspects had on February 13 set ablaze the INEC office at the Eastern Obolo Local Government Area of the state, but the timely intervention of the police saved the office and all the materials meant for the elections from being completely burnt.

Makama further stated that Anietie Peters, who is from the Mkpat-Enin Local Government Area of the state, was arrested on Friday in possession of 34 PVCs.

One Ayaya Bassey and Asuqu Ebio were apprehended at the Ikot-Ekpene Local Government Area, had confessed to being thugs hired by a politician from Cross River State.

“The command, on February 12, also killed two suspected killers of one Anthony Ikechuwu, a pharmacist, who was shot dead by hoodlums at the St. Michael Primary School, Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

“The victim’s Lexus SUV with number plate, AKD 850 DS, has been recovered. The suspects were traced to their hideout in Aba, Abia State. They were killed in a gun duel with members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad from Akwa Ibom State, while a locally-made revolver pistol with four live cartridges was recovered from the suspects.”

He took the opportunity to call on politicians in the state to stand by the law and advise their supporters to conduct themselves during and after the elections.

“Let me use this opportunity to call on politicians to play the game by the rules. Let me assure you that the non-partisan nature of the police in Akwa Ibom State will not change; we will remain apolitical, neutral and committed to free, fair and credible elections. We will at all times act professionally based on international best practices,” Makama said.

One of the 41 suspects, Okoroda Ken, from Bayelsa State, said he and his colleagues were arrested at the Angellyne Hotel around 3 am on February 15, adding that they had yet to reach their coordinator, who lodged them in the hotel.

“We all submitted our passports to the Society for the Advancement of Credible Leadership and Observation. This organisation is registered with and credited by INEC. Since we submitted our passports, we were told that our names were submitted to INEC and that we would likely monitor the elections in Uyo.

“We came on Thursday to confirm whether our names were there or not. We were in the Angellyne Hotel, which was booked for us by the coordinator of the group, Berefa Bedfon. When we were arrested, all our phones were taken from us and we have not been able to contact anyone. INEC can confirm if our names have been registered with them.”